BiblicalMastery Buddy's bible blog

Lesson 4

Focused on the Kingdom

2 Timothy 2:14-26

 

One of the phrases I have often used is, “If you had told me fifteen to twenty years ago I would be doing what I am doing today, my answer would have been there is no way that would happen.” It has taken me all these years to be in the position to feel somewhat comfortable to share what God has allowed me to learn.

 

There is a possibility that my memory has failed me, but as I remember that biographies were written based on a lifetime of achievements. One of the men I have admired for a long time is D.L. Moody. He specifically ordered his family not to write about his life until after his death. His explanation was based on the fear that he might destroy his life story by making some wrong decisions and undermining all the work he had accomplished over his forty plus years in ministry.

 

Today there are a number of books written about those especially in the sports world whose only accomplishments are in that arena. The subjects of these books are only in their early 20’s or 30’s. My concern was addressed in an interview I heard between two well-known ministers. During the discussion one of them was asked why he had waited so long to begin writing books. His answer was two-fold. He said that when he was young he did not feel that he had enough background knowledge to write definitively. The other reason was that he might change his views over the years and would have to give answers for the variances. The minister therefore waited until he was in his fifties and a pastor in a church in New York since 1989.

 

Our growth and understanding only comes if we remain diligent and focused on the guidance we receive from God’s Word. In order for a young man or woman to reach a point of being in Timothy’s position they must be trained but also have a desire and dedication to continue under teachers who have been willing to sit under the leadership of others. Not only must we gather together but must also remember that the time spent under formal learning opportunities are limited. Much of what is gained from the Bible must be done every day in reading and mediating on what God has to say. Only then can one be able to follow the commands and instructions of someone like Paul.

 

2 Timothy 2:14

It was the task of Timothy to continually bring before the people what they had heard from Paul and now Timothy. Paul had just restated the importance of man’s relationship with God through Christ that could be shared over and over again. Through their understanding they would not fight over the things that were matter of opinion. Their focus needed to on those words that as John Phillips said are meant for life and death, time and eternity. To continually talk about things that were trivial in nature would eventually tear the church apart. The people were called to be servants of God, not those who spent time in arguing.

1. What did Paul want the people of the church to remember? (The gospel and a person’s relation to God.)
2. What was one of the dangers facing the church of that day? (The infighting over the teaching that was to take place in the church.)
3. What are some of the misinterpretations that are taking place today?
4. What are the things that are important for the church to discuss? (Those teachings that will last into eternity, salvation and how to live out one’s faith in the world today.)

 

2 Timothy 2:15

In order to accomplish the task set out before him, which would have to be done without depending on Paul, there were certain things that were to be of utmost importance in Timothy’s life. He was to be diligent, totally committed to presenting himself as a servant and teacher who would stand for the truth in the face of opposition and false teaching. His doctrine was to be based totally on the Word of God. He would prove himself fit for service by standing the testing that would be before him in the church and the possible persecution to come.

He should be like gold that had been purified under fire.

 

1. What were the qualities that Paul desired to be present in the life of Timothy? (Diligence, A true servant of God who has proven himself by his life and study to be a teacher of God’s word.)
2. How does one become a person who rightly divides the word of God? (See 2 Timothy 2:2)
3. What is doctrine? (The teachings and themes found throughout God’s word such as Theology, the character and attributes of God and Christology, the study of Christ.)
4. Why is it so important to understand doctrine in the world today?
5. What does it mean to be tested in light of what Paul wrote? (To remain true to God’s word in the face of strong opposition and false teachers.)
6. Who are the false teachers in the world against whom, we have to be on guard? (Atheist and those who tear down God’s word by presenting teachings such as health and wealth and those who call themselves theologians who dismantle the Bible arguing over what is Scriptural and what is not.)
7. In what ways do you desire to serve God?

 

2 Timothy 2:16-17

The more the people carried on worldly and empty chatter that amounted to nothing, the further they found themselves drifting away from God. Timothy was to not take part in those conversations that only wasted precious time. False teachers will always find an audience of those who are like-minded. Sadly, their teaching can permeate and eat away at the body of Christ in the same way gangrene works. It effect is insidious and deadly. Paul mentioned two men, Hymenaeus and Philetus who were primary culprits in spreading of false doctrine. Although, Hymenaeus had been handed over to satan yet he still remained as an influence among some of the people. (1 Timothy 1:20.)

 

1. What happens to people who continually argue over or take part in empty chatter?
2. Why is it so important that we understand what is meant by worldly and empty chatter? (One thing it takes us away from studying and meditating on God’s word.)
3. Why is it so difficult to remove those types from the body of Christ? (They build up a group of followers who like to hear fruitless discussions. As mentioned before the Greeks were famous for their endless discussion leading nowhere.)
4. Again, how can you make sure that you do not get caught up in following individuals like the two men mentioned above?
5. How do you recognize what is false and empty teaching? (By understanding the genuine truth found in God’s word.)
6. What will cause those types to leave? (No one listen to them.)

 

2 Timothy 2:18

The message being delivered by those men was that the people had already seen the final resurrection. They supposedly had gained it in two ways:

• At the time of their baptism
• Or that a man lived on vicariously through his children.

Both of these of course were false for the Bible clearly teaches that the final resurrection will come at the time when God judges all mankind. The result will be some will live with Him for eternity. Others who have rejected Him will face and eternal separation and punishment in hell. Followers of Christ believe that although the physical body will die a person lives on for eternity in a new perfect body. Like the new age movement of today the Greeks believed that man would lose his identity in the after-life and would be absorbed into God.

 

1. What are some of the problems with the teaching of men like Hymenaeus and Philitus?
2. What does the Bible clearly teach? (We will go into eternity with our identity intact with a new indestructible permanent body.)
3. Why is it important to know what you believe about eternity?
4. What excites you about the message of the Bible? (To know that eternity is assured for all who believe.)

 

2 Timothy 2:19

Although many were teaching that which was false, Paul wanted to assure Timothy, and through him, that there was only thing that was certain. Paul knew that everything was affirmed in God. He was the foundation of all that was and is believed. He was also the One who established the guarantee of man’s relationship with Him. Having established those truths there was another important guarantee that should give man peace. God knows those who have been sealed in his relationship with the Father. Everyone who called himself a follower of Christ was to eliminate wickedness and turn himself to a life of righteousness.

 

1. What was the one thing of which Paul was assured?
2. What does it mean for God to be the foundation?
3. Because God is the foundation what is the assurance that man has? (He is sealed in the Holy Spirit.) (See Ephesians 1:13)
4. Upon what foundation are you building your life?
5. What is the evidence that it is taking place?
6. What does it mean to you to know that you belong to God and He knows who you are in relationship to Him?

 

2 Timothy 2:20

Paul uses a metaphor to describe those in the church. Each of the vessels mentioned is of lesser quality and value than the one preceding it. He goes on to qualify them as those who are more honorable than others. What he is truly describing is the mixture of all kinds of people that are to be found in any body. They are:

• Gold which is the most valued of all commodities and highly fit for service
• Silver to a lesser degree is also of service
• Wood and earthenware vessels are those, who although a part of the body, may have a head knowledge of Christ and put on appearances, but have not had a change in heart. God spoke to Ezekiel about a true conversion when He said, “Moreover, I will give you a new heart and put a new spirit within you; and will remove the heart of stone from your flesh and give you a heart of flesh and will put My Spirit within you.” Ezekiel 36:26-27

 

1. Why was the metaphor of the vessels a clear picture of the church? (There are all kinds of people in the church, those totally committed to service to God and those who are seemingly along for the ride.)
2. Where do you see yourself in this picture?
3. In what way does Ezekiel describe the differences between the vessels? (Gold and silver would represent those with a heart of flesh. Wood and clay would relate to hearts of stone that have not changed to serve God.)
4. What is important to have both wheat and tares in the church? (Hopefully those who are just there will see the importance of becoming a follower of Christ.)

 

2 Timothy 2:21

According to Paul there is hope for all of the vessels. If one is willing to cleanse himself Paul provided list of four things that would occur in a person’s life. He would become:

• A vessel for honor
• Sanctified
• Useful to the Master
• Prepared for every good work.

 

1. How can a person be changed from a vessel of dishonor to one of honor? (Cleansing that comes through the Holy Spirit.)
2. What does each of the terms Paul used when speaking of a person mean? (There is a real opportunity for a person to have a different relationship with God.)
3. What do you need to do in your own life to make sure you become a vessel of honor?
4. What are you doing to make that progress in your spiritual walk?

 

2 Timothy 2:22a

After what had been said Paul laid out another warning and a remedy to overcome the life pursuing youthful lusts or desires. He was commanded on this occasion not to resist, as was written in James 4:7, but turn and run away from those things that would entrap him. William Barclay provided a list that might be considered as desires that might qualify from which a person of any age should flee. These go beyond the idea of immorality that is usually associated with the word lust. Quite often young people live in an idealized world and driven by emotion or impulse. Barclay describes lust as:

• Impatience wanting everything right now
• Self-assertion which may be described as being intolerant of others by not seeing the point of view of others as of any value.
• What he calls disputation which is the desire to be argumentative
• The Love of new things or that which is novelty

 

1. Although written to describe characteristics of youth which of them still fit who we are no matter what our age?
2. Why are these dangerous in the body of Christ or any other group of people?
3. What do you think of Barclay’s list?
4. What others would you add or maybe delete from the list in view of today’s society?
5. Why is Paul’s admonishment to run away from those attributes?
6. If you would describe all of these in one word what would that word be? (Immaturity)

 

2 Timothy 2:23

Timothy is then commanded to replace the youthful lusts with the pursuit of:

• Righteousness
• Faith
• Love
• Peace

 

All of these were to be done with a heart that had been cleansed and coming through testing that removed any hindrance to the relationship with the Father.

 

1. How do the above qualities contrast to those of youthful lusts? (All of these are God and other centered.)
2. Having seen Paul use these terms before in Timothy why was it necessary to repeat them again?
3. What do each of them mean as you consider them again?
4. What does it mean to have a pure heart?

 

2 Timothy 2:23

Again in the next two verses there will be a contrast between those who want to continue to argue and speculate about those things they do not understand. Timothy was to absolutely refuse to get caught up in those discussions had no value and were a waste of precious time. Not were they useless but quite often would lead to quarrels that would ultimately divide the church.

 

1. With what we have already read, what contrast do we see between the actions of others and Timothy?
2. What is the danger of empty and foolish speculations?
3. What is to be our response when we hear people carrying on such conversations?
4. Why is it sometimes difficult to stay out such discussions? (We may think we can bring clarity to the argument but than likely the people involved do not really want a solution.)

 

2 Timothy 2:24-26

The qualities of a follower of Christ described as a bondservant are to be just the opposite of the those above. He is to:

• Not be quarrelsome nor take part in debates that are based on speculation and empty words
• Be kind to all by treating all people the same.
• Able to teach
• Patient when wronged accepting hurt without lashing back
• Correct others in a gentle way. An analogy might be “a spoon full of sugar helps the medicine go down” from Mary Poppins.

 

By doing the above a person may be brought to their senses and they return to an understanding of the truth. Of course satan wants to hold on to those he may have thought were his but Christ can free those once trapped by the devil.

 

1. In what way do these qualities contrast to what has gone before?
2. What is the one word that would tie them all together?
3. Which of these do you find more difficult to carry out?
4. What would be gained, in the words of Paul, by dealing with those in the church of Ephesus in this way?
5. Why should this be the same way we approach people today? (People have not changed that much in the way they respond to others.)
6. How can we make sure that we take back those who have been in the trap set by satan?

 

• Begin now to be a good student of the Bible.
• Search your own life to see if there are any youthful lusts that must be rooted out of your life.
• Two verses that are important out of the study today and should be part of the hiding of God’s word. They are 2 Timothy 2:15 and 2:22
• Seek to be one who unites and not divides by seeking the qualities of righteousness, faith love and peace for yourself and others.
• Develop and attitude of gentleness in your relationships with others.

 

God has not only gifted every follower of Christ but has called that person to be a workman in His kingdom. Every service that is rendered must be according to the correct interpretation of His Word. We must never have it say less than it says or more than God intended. To guard against false teachings we are called to be diligent and focused on knowing and practicing the teachings of Jesus. Paul made it his lifelong goal to preach and teach nothing but the truth. From that total commitment came people like Timothy, Titus Silas and many others. That is quite a legacy that has continued down to this day. We need to make sure that it does not stop with our generation. Our work today is dependent on the truth that has been passed down to us. We must keep the torch held high to give guidance to the next generation. Be diligent in your task and flee from all that may lead us in a path away from the righteousness that God has offered to us.